Dirt to curtains & everything in between...
The joys & sometimes trials of a simple country life.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Butterflies in my garden...

This year we have been blessed with an abundance of butterflies...

Following butterfly images taken from my 2011 photo archives.

Black Swallowtail

Painted Lady?

Large Eastern Yellow Tiger Swallowtail (Male)

Gulf Fritillary

Three in a row - Unknown, Zebra Striped Swallowtail, Painted Lady

Red Admiral Butterfly, Vanessa atalanta

Zebra Striped Swallowtail

Largely due I am sure to the size of my 5 butterfly bushes that reached over 7 feet tall and have been blooming steadily since February...

Images from here down taken today..This week I did cut 2 of them back to about 2ft hoping they will thicken up as they are all starting to look very spindly...I adore the fragrance of these blooms, smells like a beehive...yum

Cutting back 2 of the bushes has not cut back the number of butterflies visiting...These are not my best butterfly photos simply because once again the Large Eastern Yellow Tiger Swallowtail proves to be a very flighty subject...This time a smaller female (or at least this is my guess as she barely sits still long enough for a good look at her open wings)...Most of our other butterflies are lazier and just drift from bloom to bloom ignoring myself and my camera.

Started from seeds sent to me by my Mother-in-law this white Wisteria is show a lot of growth over the last week or so...I might have to wait until next year to see it bloom..

Also from my Mother-in-law, the Black-eyed Susan is beginning to show buds...I am delighted since I was sure it would be next season before I got flowers.

My box of cheap mixed flowers are still going strong, a little too strong, my poor rose bushes have been lost in here and are just not getting enough light, as soon as I have time when it is not sweltering hot, I will go and rescue the roses and put them else where...

And talking of roses, I had to share this lovely pink knockout rose with yall...It really seems to be loving it's home in the suitcase planter...

Now I am off to sit on the porch with my camera and wait for the lady butterfly to return.

Kelsie, I am amazed at the different types of butterflies you have in your garden! Apparently butterfly bushes really work, but alas, I have never been able to keep one alive. And a white wisteria? Be still my heart, I love wisteria too, but same story as butterfly bush. I look forward to seeing more beautiful blooms and butterflies in your garden.

Stunning butterflies and fantastic photos. You are indeed very lucky to be able to see such an assortment of beauties. Those Butterfly bushes appear to be living up their name. Your Knockout Rose is gorgeous too.

wow!!! those are gorgeous! we had a monarch butterfly migration come through here a few years ago...oh the mess they made with the catipillars!! It was worth it though...they were gorgeous too! I am amazed at all the different ones you have there!Thanks for linking in and sharing your flaunt today!!! I always love seeing all the pretties everyone shares! Have a great weekend friend!

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Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths: guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Why our family is here...

This little patch of Florida has seen a few generations and a couple of houses since it was first homesteaded in the late 1800's by hubby's ancestors..

In Nov 2009 we purchased this 5 acres parcel of land from his parents to build our new family home and to keep the original homesite in the family for another generation...

This blog was created to share our journey that started with clearing a spot for our new home where the old one once sat so long ago...Watching our house being built from the ground up...To the present as we create a home full of wonderful memories...Glad you could join us along the way.